If your expectations were low heading into this game with Dana Eveland on the mound for the A's, you probably weren't disappointed too much. That's not to say his outing was good, but he did start off with a 1-2-3 first inning after Scott Hairston put the A's on top 1-0 with a blast to left.
It was all downhill from there for Eveland and the A's.
Second inning: leadoff homer by Jason Bay followed by a double, single and a walk. Only Nick Green's double play, in which Orlando Cabrera tagged Jason Varitek before throwing to first though a run scored, helped keep that inning from being even worse.
Third inning: double and a walk, and though Eveland had a chance to get out of the inning unscathed he lost command before Varitek hit a full-count, two-run, two-out single up the middle to extend the lead to 4-1 before Edgar Gonzalez got Green to fly out.
The A's were fortunate to get the complete game from Brett Anderson last night because any way you looked at it the first part of the game was going to be taken up by Eveland and Gonzalez in some way with the rest of the bullpen getting a little action. Eveland was pitching on short rest with Gonzalez ready to take over sooner or later and based on Eveland's line of 2.2 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 3 BB and 2 K (3.38 WHIP in a small size) and needing 61 pitches to get five more outs after just 10 in the first, he still doesn't inspire much confidence in his ability to get Major League hitters out enough to be a quality pitcher at this level. Granted, he was only brought up because he's on the 40-man roster and they needed someone to try to get through a few innings, but it still wasn't a good performance.
On offense, there wasn't much the A's did all night. Nobody had more than one hit and they only drew one walk against Red Sox pitching. Jason Giambi continues to look overmatched, striking out three times and grounding into a double play as his average dipped to .195. At this point I'm not buying his excuse that he'll heat up when the weather does. There's more going on with him than just cooler temperatures.
One good thing we can say about tomorrow's series finale: the A's won't be trying to avoid being swept!
0 recs | 53 comments
Well, uh, that Scott Hairston home run was sweet while the lead lasted.
Edgar Gonzalez should have started the game.
Rated-R Superstar - July 7, 2009
Agreed
Let Eveland relieve Edgar if necessary, not the other way around.
I wonder if this was a try-out for San Diego, and Dana failed.
richwol1 - July 7, 2009
yeah i was kind of hoping he would have an aberration of a start tonight
so the pads could trick themselves into taking him. no such luck…
jlanning17 - July 8, 2009
On principle, I don't believe any criticism can begin
“Edgar Gonzalez should have started the game,” so I’m giving the A’s a flier on this one.
Nico - July 7, 2009
Gonzalez hasn't been half bad lately...
or was that Gonzalez? Or was that both of them?
Gaijin_Suketto - July 8, 2009
I think you're thinking of Gonzalez.
Nico - July 8, 2009
"he lost command"
heh
ak_A - July 7, 2009
"in Spring Training"
mikev - July 7, 2009
"of 2004 or so"
Nico - July 7, 2009
Oh...my gosh.
That was long, slow, and hard. And not in the good way.
Oh, Dana, sorry dude.
Oh Dallas, sorry dude.
Oh AN, sorry dudes.
lynnzgal - July 7, 2009
You're so dirty!
iglew - July 7, 2009
You're just now finding this out?
lynnzgal - July 7, 2009
Oh hi there.
mikev - July 7, 2009
Hi baby!
lynnzgal - July 7, 2009
rawr.
mikev - July 7, 2009
Right back at you.
lynnzgal - July 7, 2009
Heh
CSNCA asked the question: Does Dana Eveland have what it takes to make it in the A’s rotation?
Of the people who answered via text, 60% said no, 40% said yes.
I wonder what the 40% are taking.
Flashfire - July 7, 2009
Someone check Bob Geren's browsing history, stat.
pam5981 - July 7, 2009
Lol.
lynnzgal - July 7, 2009
QOTM
baseballgirl - July 7, 2009
a cocktail of barbituates, ground monkey balls and epson salts
ak_A - July 7, 2009
So you voted yes?
Flashfire - July 7, 2009
(sets down glass, types)
ak_A - July 7, 2009
Box score is lagging, my friend.
What up?
lynnzgal - July 7, 2009
Beats me
Flashfire - July 7, 2009
K
lynnzgal - July 7, 2009
Eveland rocks, Eveland rocks...
Eveland sucks, Eveland sucks… (Ohio)
MMunoz33 - July 7, 2009
Oh well
I wasn’t expecting a win tonight when Egon and Eveland were supposed to pitch the majority of the innings and our offense was facing Beckett. It was nice to see Hairston get into one but once again the offense just couldn’t capitalize on the opportunities that it had.
If maybe Cabrera gets a single with runners on 2nd and 3rd after Kennedy’s double and we had pushed across a couple in the 6th and 7th then we could be talking about escaping with a win but that’s what good teams do and we are not a good team.
Going further with that, Holliday and Giambi were acquired so that they could carry the offense when the rest of the hitters weren’t doing so well but obviously neither had gotten hot for any extended stretch of time and the other hitters have performed awfully as a whole. Maybe Billy will have better luck next offseason with hitters because nobody has come through this year.
Helloooo 1st - July 7, 2009
Robert Buan just reported that
Eveland has been sent back down to Sac
Technotofu - July 7, 2009
I, for one, am shocked and amazed.
mikev - July 7, 2009
I think it's fair to say that the odds
of the door hitting his ass on the way out are pretty strong.
Nico - July 7, 2009
Everything else hits him.
mikev - July 7, 2009
well played
Elvez - July 7, 2009
I actually like Dana.
I wanted him to do well. The fact that he didn’t tonight, to me, isn’t indicative of how well he CAN do. But he’s such a head case. I’m thinking he would do better as middle relief. And with our young pitching staff, Isn’t that what we need?
lynnzgal - July 7, 2009
I can't see a head case
as a guy who can take over with the bases loaded.
Technotofu - July 7, 2009
But he wouldn't have had to
if EGon had started. Totally different game in that case, I’m thinking.
lynnzgal - July 7, 2009
He would have to at some point, if his role was middle relief.
Getting out of jams, his or others, as a strength of his. I vote for mop-up duty.
pam5981 - July 7, 2009
Different from starting pitcher,
for sure.
lynnzgal - July 7, 2009
Mop up duty seems like a perfect fit
I think there’s a puddle in the runway to the clubhouse — get on it, Dana!
Nico - July 8, 2009
Telegram for Danahhhh Eeeevlandddddd
ak_A - July 7, 2009
Adios!
lynnzgal - July 7, 2009
QOTM
ElQuesoCapitan - July 7, 2009
Well played.
Philip Christy - July 7, 2009
Actually,
Eveland has been designated for assignment, according to John Shea at the Chronicle:
Huh. I’m assuming this means he is not the player to be named later in the Hairston deal, because the Pads could just snap him up right now, and then take the other guy they are looking at.
Philip Christy - July 7, 2009
Sure, it's a formality
Trainman - July 7, 2009
My only requirement from a spot starter is to have half-way decent control.
Actually, that’s all I ask of any man, baseball related or not. Hence, you suck Eveland.
Pucking Insane - July 7, 2009
Bets on when Giambi is released if he doesn't begin hitting
July 31st.
richwol1 - July 7, 2009
July 31st,
2010
fruitattack - July 8, 2009 via mobile
Not soon enough...
…and the other part of the bet: WHO gets a shot at playing first for the rest of the season?
Dr Pez - July 8, 2009
I miss what's his name? damn, it was on the tip
of my typing fingers…… he came and went with us with brief time last season. okay spot starter. (gets coffee and runs shower)
ak_A - July 8, 2009
sarloos
ak_A - July 8, 2009
Eveland DFA?
saw that on MLD Trade Rumors
closetasfan - July 8, 2009
no DLD yet, so i'll post this here
another article on the incidence of injuries in baseball. yesterday’s piece chronicled the rise of injury and today’s is the use of stats/moneyball approach to building more resilient rosters.
part 2 from the ny times
stm72 - July 8, 2009
You must Login with your SB Nation account and be a member of Athletics Nation to post a comment.